Furthermore he saith, If ye have learned him well, according as the truth is in our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is set down of purpose, because there are a number of fickle headed folk and fantastical fellows, which make great protestation with full mouth, that they be Christians, as though they had devoured the whole Gospel: and yet have neither wisdom nor discretion in them. And would God that examples thereof were not so rife now adays in the world. But if a man should demand every of them, whether they would not have the Gospel: yes, what else, say they? That runs roundly with them without any stop: for saying is good cheap. But let a man examine the most part of them how they have profited, and he shall scarce find one among a hundred of them, that knows in good earnest what belongeth too Jesus Christ. Too say, that men may lawfully eat flesh upon fridays, and too mock at all the superstitions of popery, and to say, that they be but gewgaws and trifling things. ⟨image 226⟩that they can do with ease. But in the mean while if a man ask them what it is to be regenerated, what patience is, what newness of life is, & what it is to be fashioned again after the image of god: there the most part of them will show, that they never tasted of the truth of the Gospel, but did but only guibble about the bark of it, & never came at the very substance of it. And this is not now adays only, for S. Paul showeth well, that even in his time many folks abused the name of Christ, & would needs be taken for great Christians, & yet never wist what the Son of God was. Wherefore let us mark well what is said here. For it is as if S. Paul should find fault with himself: not that the things which he had spoken needed any amendment, but too give the sharper check or rebuke to such as did so falsify Christs name, & wickedly abuse his Gospel, by making it a cloak for their wickedness. S. Paul then making a countenance as it were to bethink himself better, saith, yea for sooth, but I pray God ye have learned him. As if he should say, I speak indifferently to all such as have heard the pure doctrine of God. Howbeit forasmuch as a great sort will wrest & wring the things that are told them, & take but only some patch of matter, I wot not what: therefore have they not any good foundation to build upon. To be short, they have no root of faith.
Furthermore he saith, If yee haue learned him well, according as the truth is in our Lord Iesus Christ. And this is set downe of purpose, bycause there are a number of fickle headed folke and fantasticall fellowes, which make great protestation with full mouth, that they bee Christians, as though they had deuoured the whole Gospell: and yit haue nother wisedome nor discretion in them. And would God that examples therof were not so ryfe now adayes in the world. But if a man should demaund euery of them, whether they would not haue the Gospell: yis, what else, say they? That runnes roundly with them without any stop: for saying is good cheape. But let a man examine the most part of them how they haue profited, and he shall scarce fynd one among a hundred of them, that knowes in good earnest what belongeth too Iesus Christ. Too say, that men may lawfully eate flesh vppon frydayes, and too mocke at all the superstitions of poperie, and to say, that they be but gewgawes and tryfling things. ⟨image 226⟩that they can do with ease. But in the meane whyle if a man aske them what it is to be regenerated, what pacience is, what newnes of lyfe is, & what it is to be fashioned agein after the image of god: there the most part of thē wil shew, that they neuer tasted of the truth of the Gospell, but did but only guibble about the barke of it, & neuer came at the very substance of it. And this is not now adayes only, for S. Paule sheweth wel, that euē in his time many folks abused the name of Christ, & wold needes be takē for great Christians, & yit neuer wist what the sonne of God was. Wherfore let vs mark wel what is said here. For it is as if S. Paul should find fault with himself: not that the things which he had spokē needed any amendment, but too giue the sharper check or rebuke to such as did so falsifie Christs name, & wickedly abuse his Gospel, by making it a cloke for their wickednes. S. Paul thē making a countenance as it were to bethinke himself better, sayth, yea for sooth, but I pray God ye haue learned him. As if he shold say, I speak indifferētly to al such as haue heard the pure doctrine of God. Howbeit forasmuch as a great sort wil wrest & wring the things that are told thē, & take but only some patch of matter, I wote not what: therfore haue they not any good foundation to buyld vpō. To be short, they haue no roote of fayth.
